About Vocations

Lay Vocations

Holiness at home and the workplace

Vocation for the vast majority of the Church lies in vocation of being a lay man or woman as a Christian in the world. This area in the culture of vocation has long been neglected in the mind of many people. When asked about vocation many instantly starting thinking of priesthood or religious life, rather than the vocation of being a baptized man or woman playing a full and active part in the mission of the whole Christian people and in the Church and in the world. As Jesus put it “to be salt to earth” by living their Catholic Faith in the midst of society. To recognize the call to holiness in everyday life and the sanctification of the home and workplace by being living witnesses of their Catholic faith. As the Catechism of the the Catholic Church states: “By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them in according to God’s will…it pertains to them in a special way so to illuminate and order all temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and may be to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer.” (CCC 898).

Marriage and Family Life

Most of the Church comprises of lay and men and women whose vocation is that of marriage and family life. Marriage is itself a sacrament, revealing something of the mystery of Christ’s love for his Bride the Church. So often those preparing for marriage fail to recognize that they have a vocation, and that they are called through marriage and family life to the same life of holiness as Priests and those in Consecrated life.

“In a very special way, parents in particular have a a share in the office of sanctifying ‘by leading a conjugal life in the Christian spirit and by seeing to the Christian education of their children” (CCC 903).

“Christian marriage is also and to all effects a vocation to sanctity, and the example of saintly parents is the primary condition favouring the growth of religious and priestly vocations.” Pope Benedict XVI

Lay Single and Consecrated Life

There are those in the Church who are not called to be married or enter Consecrated Life or Holy Orders who by their work, their example, chastity and faithful adherence to the teaching and life of the Church offer an authentic witness to discipleship and offer themselves, in friendship and service to community.